Buried Soils Research Articles

Biogeochemical Processes in Steppe Landscapes of the Ergeni Upland in the Holocene

A soil catena was studied on the Ergeni Upland; the soils and plants were sampled in five dependent points. The contents of macro- and microelements in them were determined. It was found that the radial (vertical) geochemical migration predominates in the eluvial positions of the catena, and the lateral geochemical migration predominates in the transeluvial and transeluvial–accumulative positions. Plants of the Poa L. genus intensely accumulated elements within the eluvial part of the catena, whereas plants of the Artemisia genus were element accumulators within the trans-superaquatic position. Plants of the Artemisia genus were generally characterized by a higher coefficient of the biological uptake of elements in all parts of the catena, except for the eluvial position, where this parameter was higher for plants from the Poa L genus. A rise in the magnetic susceptibility of the soil profile relative to the parent material was the highest in the eluvial position and the lowest in the trans-superaquatic position. A comparative analysis of geochemical ratios for modern soils showed that they are determined by the topographic position of the given point. However, the gradient of variations for surface soils is much smaller in comparison with that for buried soils indicative of the climatic fluctuations. The obtained geochemical indicators can be used for comparative analysis of buried soils found not only on the divides but also in the subordinate landscape positions.

The environment of the Early Iron Age at the southern fringe of the forest zone of the Russian plain

Landscape response to the Late Holocene climatic cycles was studied on the base of detailed morphological, analytical and micro-biomorphic research of a soil buried under fortification earth wall of the Early Iron Age (around 2000 yr. B.P) and a surface soil. Both soils formed on similar surfaces with the same lithology (mantle loam underlain by calcareous loess), at the same elevation, and in close proximity to each other. The buried soil has a complete profile that was influenced by human activity prior to the burial and subjected to diagenesis after the burial. In addition, both soils (Retisols) show similar morphology and key analytical features indicating close similarity of the landscapes in the study area that existed in the Early Iron Age and those that are present nowadays. Micro-biomorphic assemblages (phytoliths, pollen, microbial genes) support this conclusion. Landscape stability at the southern fringe of the forest zone makes it possible to establish the northern limit of the wide belt, which stretches out from dry steppe to northern forest-steppe, where landscape shifts influenced by the Late Holocene climatic cycles occurred. The features of the diagnostic horizons of the studied Retisols are indicators of stability in the studied time/space range. The study of microbial genes, which was performed in the studied soils for the first time, showed that both content and taxonomic structure of soil microbial communities, are promising paleoclimatic proxies as well as a record of diagenetic changes in buried soils.

Soil-geomorphology relationships and landscape evolution in a southwestern Atlantic tidal salt marsh in Patagonia, Argentina

Salt marshes in Patagonia ecosystem are nowadays fully recognized by ecological, pollution and phytoremediation studies but a soil genesis and geomorphology approach is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to establish the soil-geomorphology relationship in Fracasso salt marsh and to determine the successional vegetation dynamics associated with the landscape evolution. This work was carried out in Fracasso salt marsh sited in Península Valdés, Argentina, where an integrated study on soil-geomorphology relationship and landscape evolution was performed along with sedimentological analysis and vegetation changes (C3 photosynthesis pathway vs. C4 photosynthesis pathway plants). This last was determined through the δ13C composition from soil organic matter (SOM). Soil descriptions and laboratory analysis of soil samples were performed. A marked relationship between the vegetation unit, the dominant landform and the type of associated soil was found. Limonium brasiliense (Lb) and Sarcocornia perennis (Sp), both C3 plants, are dominant in levees associated with tidal creeks, and soils were classified as Typic Fluvaquents, while Spartina alterniflora (Sa) soils were classified as Sodic Endoaquents and Sodic Psammaquents. Although no sulfidic materials were identified by incubation test, they were identified by hydrogen peroxide treatment in Sa soils, and now are considered potential acid sulfate soils (PASS). Sedimentological analysis from deepest sandy C horizons indicates a beach depositional environment. On the other hand, the δ13C stable isotope composition of SOM preserved into these buried soil acting as parent materials shows the dominance of C4 plants presumably belonging to Spartina species, suggesting a possible colonization and stabilization as the pioneer salt marsh.

ON ANCIENT AGRICULTURE IN ARID REGIONS OF CENTRAL ASIA: THE CASE OF THE UVS NUUR BASIN

The Uvs Nuur Basin is one of the largest arid basins in southern Siberia and Central Asia. Local economy is based on pastoralism. Small-scale irrigation farming is practiced in river valleys. Satellite images of the basin reveal traces of ancient farming, which was much more extensive than that practiced at present. In the central part of the basin, in the Tes-Khem valley, dense irrigation networks are observed, along with numerous associated and hitherto unknown ancient settlements. Presumable remains of an ancient city surrounded by a network of irrigation canals were discovered on the west coast of Lake Uvs Nuur. Field studies confi rmed the results of image analysis. Parts of ancient irrigation systems, ruins of the city and separate settlements were documented on the ground. For the fi rst time, paleobotanical studies of buried soils and peatlands on ancient fi elds in the central Uvs Nuur Basin revealed seeds of Triticum sp. Remains of trees and grasses found in the same associations suggest that parts of the basin that are now desertedwere covered by forest-steppe landscapes, and the climate was milder at the time when agriculture was practiced. Tentative results of radiocarbon dating suggest that the city existed during the High Middle Ages. Our results point to a higher role of agriculture at that time as compared to the present.

A PERIODIZATION OF THE TIMBER-GRAVE CULTURE IN THE WESTERN ORENBURG REGION: ARСHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCE-BASED EVIDENCE

Stages in the evolution of the Srubnaya (Timber-Grave) culture in the Orenburg region, Western Urals, are reconstructed using a multidisciplinary approach. The morphology and composition of buried soils provide a clue to the relative chronology of burial moundswithin a cemetery. The earliest paleosols indicate arid conditions whereas the latest ones testify to greater humidity. The comparison of data from various analyses suggests that mounds contemporaneous in terms of 14C dates display resemblance in funerary rite, burial goods, and paleosol characteristics. The technological analysis of ceramics based on A.A. Bobrinsky approach showed that vessels from earlier mounds are more standardized, whereas those from later ones are more diverse. Based on the set of data, the evolution of Timber-Grave culture in the region falls into three stages.

New Method of Calculation About Shallow Buried Seam Loosing Pressure

The traditional method for calculating the loose chamber pressure of shallow buried soil does not consider the special overburden structure of shallow buried depth, Bo Jiyan and thick unconsolidated coal seam, and even does not consider the activity law of overlying strata when the stope is under pressure. Based on the theory of elastoplastic and the theory of limit equilibrium theory, this paper presents a method to solve the loose pressure of overlying rock in shallow coal seam, the calculation method has a more rigorous mechanical basis, and the calculation results are more consistent with the actual situation, which effectively avoids the shortcomings of traditional calculation methods, and provides a new method for solving the loose pressure of overlying strata in shallow buried coal seam.

Effect of Contrasting Trophic Conditions on the Priming Effect in Gray Forest Soils

Priming effects initiated by the addition of 14С glucose have been compared for humus horizons of soils existing under continuous input of fresh organic substrates and for buried soil horizons, in which entering of organic matter has been essentially limited. The effect of microrelief on the manifestation of priming effect in the humus horizons of gray forest soil on microhigh and in microlow has been estimated. Humus horizon in soils on microhigh, not activated by glucose, produced two times more СО2 in comparison with soils of microlow. However, the introduction of glucose canceled the effect of microrelief on СО2 emission. The intensity of absolute priming effect correlated with the Сorg pool, initial microbial biomass, and enzyme activity, decreasing from humus horizons to the buried ones, and did not depend on microrelief. The effect of microrelief was observed, when assessing the priming effect relative to control (soil not activated by glucose): the value of relative priming effect was 1.5 times greater in А horizon of gray forest soil in microlow in comparison with that on microhigh being the result of increasing activity of enzymes.

Ecological-evolutionary analysis of lithium content in soils

The point is that investigation of geochemistry and behavior of Lithium in Ukraine’s soils is been rather exceptional. We have analyzed the content of Lithium in soils: modern and buried under the ramparts of various ages. The research territory includes Prut-Dniester and Prut-Siret interfluvial. Most often there are Phaeozems (Luvic Phaeozem, or Mollic Gleysol or Eutric Gleysol) and Chernozems (Luvic Chernozem or Chernic Chernozem). Buried soils are located directly near the modern background soils, so the differences between them are the result of evolution of the background soils during burial (the screening) after the construction of ramparts. On the Podvirna site current landscapes are wood and meadow-steppe; in the past, subboreal stage, were probably closer to the steppe; buried soil – Chernozem typical with a little profile, in the modern of soil structure prevails Luvic Phaeozem. The sites Ridkivtsi and Grushivka are characterized forest landscapes and in the past on those areas dominated wood-meadow landscapes. At present prevailing types of soils are Phaeozems or Gleysol. Soil samples have taken for the genetic horizons. After drying and preparing of soils in them had performed analytical determination of total content (Nitrate extract, followed by evaporation of hydrogen peroxide) of Lithium and its mobile forms (ammonium acetate-extract with pH = 4,8). The results of analyzes had processed by using statistical and mathematical testing based on the program «Statistica 6.0». Our obtained results are indicating background of total Lithium content, which ranges from 8,70 to 33,5 mg∙kg-1 and its average amount was 22,3±6,01 mg∙kg-1; amplitude quantity of Lithium mobile forms is between 0,20 to 2,60 mg∙kg-1, with an average content of 0,60±0,57 mg∙kg-1. The mean of total Lithium content of all soils with buried soils in particular are decreased from Podvirna site (27,4 mg∙kg-1) to the site Ridkivtsi (22,8 and 26,3 mg∙kg-1, accordingly) and site Grushivka (20,0 and 19,1 mg∙kg-1, accordingly), while the number of mobile forms changed significantly from substantial Podvirne hospital (1,43 mg∙kg-1) to the hospital Grushivka (0,83 and 0,91 mg∙kg-1, respectively) and hospital Ridkivtsi (0,44 and 0,79 mg∙kg-1, appropriately). In the majority of background soils we had discovered humus-eluvial-illuvial redistribution, sometimes - eluvial-illuvial redistribution. It is important to know that we had not observed high Lithium content in the parent rock of soils (except for two sections of the site Ridkivtsi with discussion rather recognition of the parent rock of the profile). This is demonstrating the determining influence of pedogenesis on the redistribution of chemical elements in the of soils. Actually, Lithium has often accumulated in the upper humus horizons (as a result of the impact of organic matter and of soil biota as a whole) or in the horizons of clay accumulation. To crown it all pedogenesis fundamentally has changing features of the vertical distribution of Lithium content. Concerning future research is necessity of application of isotopic analysis to identify the characteristics of different ages soils.

Caracterización óptica de la materia orgánica de un Andisol del Oriente antioqueño, Colombia

Se realizó la caracterización óptica de la materia orgánica (MO) de un Andisol, obtenida en extracciones selectivas y secuenciales de Al, Fe y Si (cloruro de potasio, pirofosfato de sodio, oxalato ácido de amonio, ditionito-citrato-bicarbonato e hidróxido de sodio). A partir de las absorbancias se calculó la relación E4/E6, el ∆ log K, el Índice Melánico (IM) y el ODOE. Los comportamientos de la relación E4/E6, del ∆ log K y del IM en los extractos obtenidos con pirofosfato de sodio y con oxalato ácido de amonio mostraron un mayor grado de humificación para la materia orgánica extraída de los horizontes A y 2B/A y uno menor para la extraída de los horizontes 3C/A y 4Bs. El ODOE mostró la presencia de complejos orgánicos en los extractos obtenidos con pirofosfato e hidróxido de sodio y, la acumulación iluvial de óxidos e hidróxidos de Fe no cristalinos en el horizonte 4Bs en el extracto obtenido con oxalato ácido de amonio. En el horizonte A, los índices de humificación marcaron un cambio en el grado de evolución de la MO entre 8 y 10 cm de profundidad, lo cual podría indicar la presencia de una discontinuidad litológica o de un suelo enterrado.

РЕЗУЛЬТАТИ ПАЛЕОПЕДОЛОГІЧНОГО ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ДАВНІХ ГРУНТІВ НЕПОДАЛІК с.ТРОЯНОВЕ НА КІРОВОГРАДЩИНІ

The old (Upper Pleistocene and modern soils inside of ancient settlement near v. Troyanove on Kyrovogradschyna (Ukraine) during complex archeological investigation with archeologist L.L. Zaliznyak. The paleopedological method with wide applying of geoarcheological approach was using for to set soil types, trends of development and changes of climate in time as result of comparing of ancient and modern soils. According to invitation of doctor of historic sincere archeologist prof. L.L. Zaliznyak authors studied Upper Paleolithic soils inside of ancient settlement near v. Troyanove on Kyrovogradschyna. The aim of studying were: to determined types of the buried soils; according possibility to reconstruct human habitation nature conditions of the last; to set trends of climatic changes in time. The publications which have attention to the trend of Holocene soils development; the profiles of ancient and inside of ancient v. Troyanove on Kyrovogradschyna. The aims studying were: to determined types of the buried soils; according possibility to reconstruct human habitation nature condition of the last; to set trends of climatic changes in time. The publications which have attention to the trend of Holocene soils development and profiles of ancient and modern soils were analyzed. The last were studied in the 3-th section, but only in the section 1 and 2 archeological artifacts were found out. In the section 1 siliceous material was laying lower of modern soil in Bug loess above vitachiv soil surface. In the section 2 modern chernozem had thickness 0,8-0,9 m and in lower part had erosion loud withBug loess where archeological material we concentrating in sediments. So, in the 1 section as well as in the 2-th section there were artifacts in the upper part of the Bug loess (about 24000 BP). Losses, that were keeping, according paleopedological (including micromorphological) data signs of formation in the cold or temperate-cold climate of steppe with spreading of rarely forest and bushes in the river valleys and gullies. May be there was the stage of sediments interraption between big loess and modern soil formation. In the section 3 background soil is represented by the Holocene chernozem about 0,9 m thick with clear Pk. Comparing modern and ancient soil (the last with siliceous material) allowed to conclude about grow warm conditions of climate for modern soil formation. In the modern time territory is disposing in the forest-steppe zone of temperate-warm climate, but in the Paleolyte conditions of temperate-cold or cold steppe climate were prevailed. More late investigations allowed to summary red data about nature conditions of habitant living in Kyrovogradschyna in the monography under redaction of L. L. Zaliznyak with coauthors Matviyishyna Zh. and S. Doroshkevich of 2013 “Ancient last of Novomyrgorodschina” (in Ukrainian).

Периодизация срубной культуры Западного Оренбуржья по археологическим и естественно-научным данным

Stages in the evolution of the Srubnaya (Timber-Grave) culture in the Orenburg region, Western Urals, are reconstructed using a multidisciplinary approach. The morphology and composition of buried soils provide a clue to the relative chronology of burial moundswithin a cemetery. The earliest paleosols indicate arid conditions whereas the latest ones testify to greater humidity. The comparison of data from various analyses suggests that mounds contemporaneous in terms of 14C dates display resemblance in funerary rite, burial goods, and paleosol characteristics. The technological analysis of ceramics based on A.A. Bobrinsky approach showed that vessels from earlier mounds are more standardized, whereas those from later ones are more diverse. Based on the set of data, the evolution of Timber-Grave culture in the region falls into three stages.

Radioactive Contamination of Alluvial Soils in the Taiga Landscapes of Yakutia with 137Cs, 226Ra, and 238U

The concentrations and distribution of 137Cs in alluvial soils (Fluvisols) of the upper and middle reaches of the Markha River in the northwest of Yakutia and 226Ra and 238U in alluvial soils within the El’kon uranium ore deposit in the south of Yakutia have been studied. It is shown that the migration of radiocesium in the permafrost-affected soils of Yakutia owing to alluviation processes extends to more than 600 km from the source of the radioactive contamination. The migration of 137Cs with water flows is accompanied by its deposition in the buried horizons of alluvial soils during extremely high floods caused by ice jams. In the technogenic landscapes of southern Yakutia, active water migration of 238U and 226Ra from radioactive dump rocks. The leaching of 238U with surface waters from the rocks is more intense than the leaching of 226Ra. The vertical distribution patterns of 238U and 226Ra in the profiles of alluvial soils are complex. Uranium tends to accumulate in the surface humus horizon and in the buried soil horizons, whereas radium does not display any definite regularities of its distribution in the soil profiles. At present, the migration of 238U and 226Ra with river water and their accumulation in the alluvial soils extend to about 30 km from the source.

Late Quaternary loess and soils on uplands in the Canyonlands and Mesa Verde areas, Utah and Colorado

AbstractThin loess deposits on the uplands of the southeastern Colorado Plateau have previously not been well studied. We sampled deposits and soils from trenches on Hatch Point (HP) mesa near Canyonlands National Park, Utah, and from two outcrops in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. At HP, the oldest buried unit yielded 2 optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages of 10,370 and 7555 yr; the middle unit yielded 10 OSL ages from 6220 to 1385 yr; and the youngest unit had a single age of 1740 yr. At Mesa Verde (MV), three loess units are preserved in the two outcrops we examined; 6 OSL ages range from 51 to 17 ka. At least one buried soil is present between two units with ages of about 50 and 40 ka. The ages of the loess units in both study areas correspond well with OSL-dated dune sands in Canyonlands National Park and with dune sands on Black Mesa, Arizona. Particle-size distribution combined with chemical and magnetic data indicate that HP loess was derived mostly from nearby sandstone sources with a small component of far-traveled atmospheric dust, whereas MV loess was sourced both from the nearby sandstone and the San Juan River and its tributaries.

Природні умови проживання людини на основі вивчення похованих ґрунтів кургану епохи бронзи / The natural conditions of human's habitation according to studying of buried soils in the Bronze Age mound

Природні умови проживання людини на основі вивчення похованих ґрунтів кургану епохи бронзи / The natural conditions of human's habitation according to studying of buried soils in the Bronze Age mound

Гривный рельеф юга Западно-Сибирской равнины: морфология и возраст (на примере Черноозерской гривы, Саргатское Прииртышье)

The article is devoted to the study of the crest relief, which is widespread in large areas of the south of Western Siberia: morphology, the genesis of the relief, the stages of its formation, the amount of accumulation of material, the rate of its accumulation. Geomor-phological studies of the relief of the southern part of the West Siberian Plain are carried out on the example of the Chernoozerskaya crest (Sargatsky Priirtyshye). The territory is a wide left-bank part of the valley of the river Irtysh. The absolute height of the surface varies from 62,5 m (the water level Irtysh river) to 71 m (southern edge of the village of Chernoozerye). The increase in heights occurs from the southeast to the northwest, from the riverbed Irtysh to the slope of the inter-river Nizhneyrtysh plain. The district is in the lower reaches of the valley complex (Sargatskoe Priirtyshie). In the structure of the valley stands a floodplain and a series of above-floodplain terraces stretching a wide strip of tens of kilometers. The Chernoozerskaya crest is located on the first terrace above the floodplain, which has a late Pleistocene age. The terrace does not have a continuous distribution and is expressed in relief in the form of remnants in the rear part of the high floodplain. The remains of the terrace existed during the late Pleistocene in the form of an island in the flood-plain, which was occasionally flooded with water, as evidenced by the nature of the sediments: thin low-layered sandy, sandy-loamy, gravel deposits are interbedded with subaerial sediments in the form of loose unbroken, uncertified partially humus sandy loams, loams and sands. In the Holocene, the remains passed into the terrace mode, preserving the morphological appearance characteristic of the high floodplain island. In the upper thickness of the sediments, alluvial deposits are not observed. During the Holocene, the surface of the mane was not flooded with water. The crest deposits are of eolian origin. They are loose, uncemented sands and sandy loams, which accumulated under the conditions of activation of deflation. Aeolian deposits alternate with buried soil horizons, which accumulated during the humid periods of the late Pleistocene-Holocene. Eolian sands are underlain by alluvial deposits of the first terrace above the floodplain Irtysh. Data were obtained on the average intensity of eolian sedimentation in the late Plestocene-Holocene. Formation of aeolian deposits occurred unevenly both in space and in time. The average rate of accumulation of the deposits of the Chernoozerskaya crest in the Holocene was 0,05-0,075 mm/year. In some periods of the Holocene the eolian accumulation rate could reach several millimeters per year. In the last half century, there has been a sharp activation of the formation of subaerial deposits, which are loose loamy, slightly horizontally layered sandy loam and loam. The average speed of modern eolian accumulation is 8,7 mm per year. The age of the mane deposits is late Pleysto-cene-Holocene. Archaeological finds found in the crest deposits date from 10,5 to 14,5 thousand years. Based on the average rates of eolian accumulation and the power of the eolian crest, it can be assumed that it began to form around 27-30 thousand years ago.

Description of Soil Evolution in Southern Mashhad City Using Jenny's and Johnson and Watson-Stegner's Conceptual Models

Abstract Conceptual models are suitable for describing internal relationships of complex systems, including soil. We used conceptual models, the Jenny's and Johnson and Watson-Stegner's models to understand the formation and evolution of soil. We studied 20 pedons in granitic hilly lands, loessial piedmont, and piedmont plain in southern Mashhad, northeast Iran. These soils were characterized by high levels of gypsum, especially in the granitic saprolites, which suggested the importance of the wind in shaping the soil structure. Jenny's model is a developmental and equilibrium model, which only describes the state of the soil formation factors and considers that each bioclimatic zone has a specific climax soil. It focuses on the genesis of the surface soil and is not suitable for buried soils and paleosols. Johnson and Watson-Stegner's model describes soil as a product of progressive and regressive processes due to horizonation or haploidization. Progressive processes during the last interglacial cycle created a well-developed paleosol with an argillic horizon in all landforms, except the piedmont plain. Developmental soil up-building by aeolian addition led to gypsum enrichment of the granitic saprolite. Erosion decreased soil thickness and exposed the argillic horizon. The Last Glacial Maximum led to greater deposition of loess, covering the paleosol. Humidity was higher during the early Holocene than today, leading to the development of a Bk horizon. This horizon was preserved in the stable surfaces of granitic hilly land and in the loessial piedmont, but buried on the piedmont plain via the deposition of alluvial sediments. Jenny's model could be used for current soil formation factors, whereas Johnson and Watson-Stegner's model required morphological characteristics of pedons for interpretation.

Stability and instability on Maya Lowlands tropical hillslope soils

Substantial lake core and other evidence shows accelerated soil erosion occurred in the Maya Lowlands of Central America over ancient Maya history from 3000 to 1000years ago. But we have little evidence of the wider network of the sources and sinks of that eroded sediment cascade. This study begins to solve the mystery of missing soil with new research and a synthesis of existing studies of tropical forest soils along slopes in NW Belize. The research aim is to understand soil formation, long-term human impacts on slopes, and slope stability over time, and explore ecological implications. We studied soils on seven slopes in tropical forest areas that have experienced intensive ancient human impacts and those with little ancient impacts. All of our soil catenas, except for one deforested from old growth two years before, contain evidence for about 1000years of stable, tropical forest cover since Maya abandonment. We characterized the physical, chemical, and taxonomic characteristics of soils at crest-shoulder, backslopes, footslopes, and depression locations, analyzing typical soil parameters, chemical elements, and carbon isotopes (δ13C) in dated and undated sequences. Four footslopes or depressions in areas of high ancient occupation preserved evidence of buried, clay-textured soils covered by coarser sediment dating from the Maya Classic period. Three footslopes from areas with scant evidence of ancient occupation had little discernable deposition. These findings add to a growing corpus of soil toposequences with similar facies changes in footslopes and depressions that date to the Maya period. Using major elemental concentrations across a range of catenas, we derived a measure (Ca+Mg)/(Al+Fe+Mn) of the relative contributions of autochthonous and allochthonous materials and the relative age of soil catenas. We found very low ratios in clearly older, buried soils in footslopes and depressions and on slopes that had not undergone ancient Maya erosion. We found high (Ca+Mg)/(Al+Fe+Mn) values on slopes with several lines of evidence that suggest relative youth, soils possibly formed since Maya abandonment. Carbon isotopes (δ13C) also provide some evidence of past vegetation change on slopes. We found strong evidence for maize or other alien C4 species in an ancient terrace soil and additional evidence in buried footslopes but only evidence for C3 species (like tropical trees) on the backslopes and other crest-shoulders. The fact that steep slopes preserved no evidence of C4 species inputs may mean that the ancient Maya maintained forests here. Alternatively, ancient Maya land uses eroded slopes, with the δ13C signatures detected today being the result of more recent soil development under forest over the last millennium. Additional evidence that these soils are recent in age includes elevated (Ca+Mg)/(Al+Fe+Mn) values, skeletal soil profiles, and low soil magnetic susceptibility. Besides the evidence for truncating backslopes and aggrading footslopes, the ancient Maya built agricultural terraces that accumulated soils and altered drainage. All these ancient Maya slope alterations would have influenced modern tree distributions, because many tree species in the modern forest show strong preferences for different soil types and topographic situations that the ancient Maya changed.

Digging to the Top(soil)

Construction removes soil from one site to another site. The aim of this study was to compare soil carbon of fill material and buried soil. The fill had topsoil and subsoil layers over a buried soil. The buried soil had significantly higher organic carbon (22.7 g kg−1) than the fill had (12.4 g kg−1).

Searching for benchmark soils in the steppe zone of the Trans-Ural Plateau to compile the Red Book of Soils

A large amount of soil works on the steppe zone of the Trans-Ural Plateau has been analyzed for the purpose of finding benchmark soils to compile the Red Book of Soils. In light of the theory of basic, local, rare, and complex benchmark soils (Kliment’ev et al., 1996), the upland site on virgin soil in the center of the Stepnoe site of the Il’men State Reserve in the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (UB RAS), should be referred to the basic benchmark soils as the most valuable soil object in the area. The upland site is a representative example of the steppe zone of the Trans-Ural Plateau. Brown earth soils and paleourbanozems soils marked by anthropogenic impact should be considered rare soils in the region. Other rare soils include natural fossil soils—the vertical chronological series of buried soils of terraces above the flood plain and soils buried under mounds and under the ramparts of the ancient settlement of Arkaim. The entire Stepnoe site, where different soils of the region are found, is considered a complex benchmark soil site.

Modern and buried soils of kurgans in the forest-steppe zone of the Middle Volga region (by the example of Komintern I kurgan)

The construction of the Volga–Kama cascade of water reservoirs and hydroelectric power stations in the middle of the 20th century resulted in the inundation of vast areas and the development of abrasion along the shores that threatens many monuments of the archaeological and cultural heritage. The soils buried under northernmost kurgans of the Lugovskaya culture dating back to the 15th–14th centuries BC (kurgan Komintern I) were studied on the surface of the second terrace of the Kama River near its confluence with the Volga River. Burial sites of kurgan Komintern III were subjected to destruction in 1981, and archaeological excavations of kurgan Komintern II were performed in 2008. The danger of complete disappearance of these archaeological sites necessitated their thorough study with the use of multiple methods, including special paleosol studies. The soils buried under the kurgans ceased to be active components of the soil cover about 3500 years ago. They preserve information on the paleoenvironmental conditions before their burying. The analysis of morphological features and physical, physicochemical, and chemical properties of the buried soils attests to their chernozemic nature. Background surface soils that have passed through the entire cycle of the Holocene pedogenesis have evolved since that time into gray forest soils (Luvic Greyzemic Phaeozems) under forest vegetation. These soils are characterized by the increased acidity of the surface horizons (pHКСl 4.3) and the development of lessivage. Data on the coefficients of mineral weathering in the buried paleosols and background surface soils attest to the identical precipitation both for the surface and buried soils in the Middle and Late Holocene.